Environment

EU Dumps Plastic Clothing in Kenya

EU countries are dumping 37 million items of ‘junk plastic clothing’ in Kenya every year, a new investigation has revealed. This fashion waste is too dirty or damaged to be reused and is creating serious health and environmental problems for vulnerable communities in the country. The low quality of the clothing means it ends up being immediately dumped, or burned to heat water, cook and allegedly fuel a power station.

Ohio - toxic train disaster

Almost two weeks after a freight train carrying hazardous materials was derailed in Ohio, USA, residents are reticent about returning home. The catastrophe, which occurred on 3 February near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, sparked a massive fire.

Those living in the vicinity were evacuated and schools in the area were closed as fears of an explosion grew. A controlled burn was carried out to prevent this, releasing a cloud of toxic fumes. Although residents have now been told they can return home safely, concerns remain over possible drinking water contamination, long term impacts, and reports of dead animals.